Sectional tank of the knockdown type



2 SheetS-Sheetl June E39 R946., D K, MAWLEoD SECTIONAL TANK oF THEKNocKDowN TYPE Filed sept. 15, 1945 m e 18, i4. D. K. MAcLEoD SECTIONALTANK OF THE KNOCK-DOWN TYPE Filed sept. 15, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented June 18, 1946 2,402,253 SECTIONAL TANK OF THE KNOCKDOWN TYPEDonald Keith Macleod, Wooster, Ohio, assignor to United SteelFabricators, Inc., Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationSeptember 15, 1943, Serial No. 502,417

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sectional or knockdown tanks particularlyadapted for containing volatile uids, such as gasoline.

Sectional tanks for this purpose should not only be strong and ruggedand capable of relatively quick assembly and installation, but theyshould be proof against leakage of volatile iuid stored therein, and thesections or segments should be nestable for compact shipment andstorage. Paramount problems in the construction of such tanks,particularly when used for underground storage, include the provision ofjoints between contiguous sections which are absolutely leakproofthroughout the life of the tank and which at the same time permitassembly of the sections expeditiously and without requiring specialtools such as torsion wrenches and unusual care or skilled labor.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a. gas tankmade up of nestable sections so constructed as to materially facilitateassembly of the respective sections while at the same time ensuringagainst leakage of gas or volatile uid from the tank through the jointsbetween the sections.

Another object is to provide joints between the respective sections ofknock-down tanks which are uniformly leak-proof and yet at the same timerequire no special tools or skill in properly connecting the sections.

Another object is to provide a gas tank for volatile fluids made up ofnestable sections or segments having specially shaped integral anges,the anges of one Section when connected to the flanges of an adjacentsection automatically providing grooves for gasket material of uniformconstruction throughout the tank which prevent movement or displacementof the gaskets under internal or external fluid or hydraulic pressure,there being no bolt holes passing from the interior to the exterior ofthe tank.

A further object is to provide a nestable section for knock-down gastanks capable of ready manufacture from materials such as pressed steeland which at the same time has certain inherent advantages with respectto assembly and leakproof construction.

Still further objects include, the provision of a sectional tank whichis adapted for a variety of uses, for example, underground storage inthe field, permanent installations in the area of reneries, or even as afuel tank for vehicles and airplanes; a sectional tank having jointswhich are leak-proof and which at the same time permit limited expansionof the gases; and to generally improve and simplify tanks of thesectional type.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages Will become apparent inView of the following description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of atankconstructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, an end elevation;

Figs. 3 and 4, enlarged sections on lines 3-3 and 4-4, Figs. 1 and 2,respectively.

Fig. 5, a detail perspective of one of the tank sections;

Figs. 6 and 7, sectional views illustrating the action which takes placeduring the assembling operation when the flanges or adjacent sectionsare drawn together with the gasket therebetween;

Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. '7 but illustrating a special type ofclamp member for the section iianges to reinforce the tank againstexceptionally high internal pressures;

Fig. 9, a section on line 9 9, Fig. 7;

Fig. 9e, a detail View of the gaskets of Fig. 9;

Fig. l0, a` section on the line l-l, Fig. 1; and

Figs. 11 and 12, detail views of alternate types of gaskets.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, the cylindricalbody of the tank is made up of a plurality of arcuate nestable sectionsgenerally indicated at 5, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

Each section as here shown is made up of a pressed steel blank formedwith side and end anges 6 of similar construction each flange beingdeformed to provide a semi-channel or recess 1, the metal inwardly fromthe recess being reversely turned as at 8 and merging with the body ofthe section.

In Fig. 6 the mating flanges and recesses are given similar referencecharacters except that a prime has been added.

The flanges are formed with bolt holes 9 through which bolts I0 areprojected, the latter being provided with nuts Ille.

When the flanges are mated as illustrated in Fig. 6, they form a seriesof complete, substantially cylindrical and longitudinal gasket groovesor channels II which are open toward the inner side of the tank, andwithin these channels are disposed compressible preformed gasket membersl2 and I2', preferably round in cross section, which may consist ofsynthetic rubber or other suitable material. The gaskets indicated at I2extend circumferentially of the tank and those indicated at I2 extendlongitudinally of the tank.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the action which takes place when the sectionsare assembled, the gaskets I 2, I 2 being disposed loosely in thechannels II when the sections are mated as shown in Fig. 6, whereuponthe bolts are tightened down as in Fig. '7. Note that the flanges 6having now been brought together, the channels II are somewhat smallerthan the gaskets, the latter now being compressed to a point where aportion I2a thereof projects outwardly into the clearance space betweenthe bends 8, It will thus be seen that all of the flanges may betightened down to a point where they come together, and when this pointis reached, there need be no fear that insufficient or excessivepressure has been applied to the gasket. In other words, it isimpossible to tighten the sections beyond a certain point, and when thatpoint is reached, the gasket has been effectively seated underpredetermined pressure.

Fig. 8 illustrates a reinforcement for the flanges comprising clampinglugs I3 and I3a which are tightened down by bolts I4 and nuts Ma. Theselugs ensure against undue expansion of the joints when extreme pressuretakes place within the tank.

Each tank is provided with a head or end cap I5, note Figs. 2 and 4, thecap being made of halfsegments or sections I5EL formed with jointflanges I6, I6 having exterior oppositely extending reinforcing portionsIlia, Ilia. Inwardly from the flanges I6, I6 the metal is deformed atI'I, II to provide a channel I8 adapted to receive a preformed gasket I9. Angle members are preferably welded to the inner sides of the sectionover the face of the joint to avoid undue deformation of the metal atI'I, I'I in forming the gasket channel, a space 2I being left openbetween said members to permit expansion of the gasket inwardly when theflanges I6, I6' are tightened down. It will also be noted that thegasket expands fully into the channel I8 between the members 20, thelatter also serving to reinforce the head.

To further reinforce the head I5, radial bars or the like 22 may bewelded to the sections I 5e, note Fig. 2, and at their rear endsanchored beneath a center disc or cap 23, the latter being secured tothe respective sections I5.

Fig. 3 shows the construction at the point where the cap I5 is bolted tothe ends of the tank. At this point, an arcuate shaped flanged ring 24is located between the outer edges of the head sections I5a and theflanges 6 of the adjacent body sections and secured in place by bolts 25provided with nuts 25a. A gasket 26 is disposed in the channel providedbetween the recess 'I of the adjacent body sections and the head I5, theaction being substantially the same as in the joints heretoforedescribed and the same type of gasket being used.

The tank is provided with a man hole 2l, note Figs. 1 and 10, a cover 28being secured over the man hole by means of stud bolts 29 and nuts 29a.A ring 30 is welded to the outer surface of the barrel at this point,and the cover 28 seats thereon, the studs 29 projecting from said ring.Inwardly from the ring 3U is an additional ring 3I which serves as agasket retainer. The ring 3l may be welded to the inner surface of thecover 28, a gasket 32 being disposed in the space 33 provided betweenthe outer and inner rings 30 and 3l.

It will be noted that the ring 3| is round in cross section, therebyleaving crevices 34 within which the gasket material is compressed whenthe cover is tightened down, see Fig. 10.

Fig. 9 illustrates the action which takes place at the juncture of thelongitudinal and circumferential gaskets. At this point the longitudinalgaskets are projected slightly beyond their channels, the effect oftightening the flanges of the joint being to force the abutting gasketsinto all available crevices.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate alternate types of gaskets with respect tothose shown in Figs. 9 and 9a, the change being directed primarily tothe T-joint where thelongitudinal and circumferential gaskets abut oneanother. A molded T section may be used as shown in Fig. l1, saidsection being indicated at 35 and consisting of a solid member adaptedto seat in the gasket channels and abut gaskets 36 and 3'I whichcorrespond to the gaskets I2 heretofore described.

In Fig. 12 the T section is indicated at 38 and is also solid but isformed with end projections 39 adapted to be inserted within the hollowends of gaskets 40, 4I)a and 40h.

These special Ts may be of advantage in certain installations, butactual experience indicates that in the majority of cases the simpletype of joint illustrated in Fig. 9 is entirely reliable, and it has theadvantage of reducing the number of parts. The T-memlbers of Figs. 11and 12 may also be made of synthetic rubber or other suitable material.

The nestable sectional tank herein disclosed has been found satisfactoryboth for underground use and for other types of installation. It can beused for transfer of gasoline from tanker to shore, in which event it isdesirable to anchor tow hooks or eyes tothe end discs or caps 23; or itcan be used for transportation alone, or even as an emergency fuel tankfor vehicles and aircraft.

The manner in which the sections may be assembled will be obvious fromthe foregoing description Itaken in conjunction with the drawings. Thegaskets I2, I2', I9, 26 and 32 may be furnished in standard sizesaccording to tank specifications. Thus the circumferential gaskets maybe furnished in lengths corresponding to specified diametersy and thelongitudinal gaskets in specied lengths; and during the assembling operation these gaskets may be readily inserted in the channels providedtherefor prior to tightening down the joint flanges. When the saidflanges are clamped together, the gaskets will be subjected to apredetermined pressure which prevents movement or displacement of thegaskets either from external or internal hydraulic pressure. No specialcare or tools are necessary in the assembling operation, since theproper pressure is reached when the joint flanges are brought together.

The material from which the gaskets are made should obviously beselected in accordance with 'the type of volatile fluid to be containedin the tank. For aromatic gasoline, hycar, neoprene or like syntheticrubber has been found satisfactory. However, the gasket material should-be selected with a view toward resistance to decay, controlled degreeof expansion, retention of elasticity and reliability under extremetemperature ranges.

The tank segments or sections may be made from pressed steel, theflanges and their coacting gasket grooves being so designed as to permita pressing operation without undue drawing of the metal in this region.The tank heads may be of different types to suit different types of tankbodies. rIhe head used for the purpose of illustration in the presentinstance has been found satisfactory while` for larger diameters adished head with or without reinforcing angles has been used.

No attempt has been made herein to illustrate or describe in detail thevarious modifications and obvious changes in structure necessary toadapt the tank section to different types of installations, such beingconsidered as falling within the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A tank particularly adapted for the storage of volatile fluids,including a plurality of nestable sections having outwardly projectingflanges along the marginal edges thereof each of which is formed with agenerally arcuate recess extending longitudinally of the flange soconstructed that when a pair of flanges are clamped together duringassembly of the sections channels are defined therebetween by opposedrecesses which are open toward the interior of the tank but are closedtoward the exterior of the tank, and rounded compressible gasketsdisposed in said channels, said gaskets when in an uncompressed statebeing of greater cross-sectional area than said channels when theflanges are clamped together in assembled relation, the gaskets beingthus compressed when the flanges are drawn together during assembly ofthe sections and the excess gasket material being crowded into the spacebetween the inner opposed walls of the channels.

2. A tank particularly adapted for the storage of volatile fluidsincluding a series of sections each of which is formed with outwardlyprojecting clamping flanges at the marginal edges thereof, said flangeseach being formed with an arcuate recess extending longitudinally of theflange, the flanges being so shaped and the recesses of the respectiveflanges being of such depth that when the flanges of contiguous sectionsare mated and clamped together gasket channels are defined by opposedrecesses which are open toward the interior of the tank but are closedtoward the exterior of the tank, and preformed gaskets of roundedcontour disposed in said channels, said gaskets when in an uncompressedstate being of greater cross-sectional area than said channels whenopposed flanges are clamped together, the gaskets being subjected topredetermined pressure when the flanges are drawn together during theclamping operation and the material of the gaskets in excess of thatrequired to completely fill the channels being forced into the openportions of the channels toward the interior of the tank.

3. A tank particularly adapted for the storage of volatile fluidsincluding a plurality of arcuate nestable sections each of which isformed of substantially rigid but deformable sheet material, eachsection being provided with outwardly projecting flanges along themarginal edges thereof, said flanges inwardly toward the body of thesection each being deformed to provide an arcuate recess extendinglongitudinally of the flange, means for clamping opposed flanges ofcontiguous sections together exteriorly of the tank, the opposedrecesses of each pair of mating flanges coacting to form a gasketchannel which when the flanges are clamped together is substantiallyclosed outwardly of the tank but is open toward the interior of thetank, and compressible gasket material disposed in the channels definedby said recesses, said material when in an uncompressed state being ofgreater cross-sectional area, than said channels when the flanges areclamped together, the gasket material being thus subjected to pressurewhen the flanges are connected to one another during assembly of thesections and the material in excess of that required to completely lillthe channels being crowded inwardly into the open portion of eachchannel.

4. A tank of the class specified having a substantially cylindrical bodymade up of a series of arcuate nestable sections of relatively heavygage sheet material, said sections each having outwardly projectingmarginal flanges, the opposed flanges of contiguous sections beingclamped together defining a series of joints extending longitudinallyand circumferentially of the said body, each of said flanges having anarcuate recess extending along the base thereof, the opposed recesses ofeach pair of mating flanges combining to define a gasket channel foreach joint which when the flanges are clamped together is closedoutwardly of the tank but is open toward the interior of the tank, and aseries of rounded preformed gaskets disposed in said channels, saidgaskets when in an uncompressed state being of greater cross-sectionalarea than said channels when the flanges are clamped together inassembled relation, the gaskets being subjected to pressure when matingflanges are clamped together and the material in excess of that requiredto fill the channels being crowded inwardly into the open portion ofeach channel and the ends of the gaskets of the longitudinal jointsabutting and embedding themselves in the body portions of the gaskets ofthe circumferential joints.

5. A tank of the class specified having a substantially cylindrical bodymade up of a plurality of arcuate nestable sections of relatively heavygage sheet material, each section being formed with marginal flangesprojecting outwardly of the tank body having bolt holes therethrough toreceive bolts for detachably connecting opposed flanges of contiguoussections to one another along joints extending longitudinally andcircumferentially of the body, each flange inwardly of the bolt holesbeing laterally offset and formed with a recess extending longitudinallyand facing outwardly of the flange, the arrangement being such that whena pair of opposed flanges are bolted together a gasket channel isdefined therebetween which is closed exteriorly of the tank but is opento the interior of the tank, a series of rounded preformed gasketsdisposed in said channels, said gaskets when in an uncompressed statebeing of greater cross-sectional area than said channels when theflanges are clamped together, the gaskets being compressed when theflanges are drawn together, the material in excess of that required tofill the channels being forced into the open spaces between the inneropposed walls of the channels and the ends of the gaskets of thelongitudinal joints abutting and embedding themselves in the bodyportions of the gaskets of the circumferential joints.

6. In a tank of the sectional knock-down type, a plurality of sectionshaving marginal flanges projecting outwardly of the tank and joinedtogether in mated pairs, said flanges being provided with arcuaterecesses extending longitudinally of the flanges defining gasketchannels between opposed mated flanges adapted to receive gasketmaterial, and rounded preformed compressible gaskets disposed in saidchannels, said gaskets when in an uncompressed state being of greatercross-sectional area than said channels when the anges are clampedtogether so that the gaskets are subjected to pressure when the angesare brought together in assembled relation, the opposed converging wallsof each of said channels adjacent the interior of the tank being spacedapart to provide a space into which the material in excess of thatrequired to ll the channel is projected.

'7. In a tank of the sectional knock-down type, a plurality of sectionshaving marginal flanges projecting outwardly of the tank and formed withbolt holes to receive bolts for clamping opposed flanges of contiguoussections together in mated pairs, the inner or base portions of saidflanges being provided with arcuate recesses extending longitudinally ofthe anges so that gasket channels are dened between the mated flangesadapted to receive gasket material, rounded preformed fcompressiblegaskets disposed in said channels, said gaskets when in an uncompressedstate being of greater cross-sectional area than said channels when theanges are bolted together, the gaskets thus being subjected topredetermined pressure when the flanges are bolted together in assembledrelation, the opposed converging Walls of each of said channels adjacentthe interior of the tank being spaced apart to provide a space intowhich the material in excess of that required to completely fill thechannels is projected, and clamp members disposed on opposite sides ofopposed mated anges and engaged by said bolts and having inwardlyextending portions engaging over the channeled portions of said sectionsto reinforce the latter.

8. In a sectional gas tank, a substantially cylindrical body made up ofa plurality of sections, heads secured to opposite ends of said body,said heads `being also made up of a plurality of sections joined to oneanother, the head sections along the lines of jointure being formed withoutwardly projecting flanges, means connecting said flanges in opposedsurface-to-surface contact with one another, each iiange being formedwith an arcuate portion defining a recess extending longitudinally ofsaid flange, the opposed recesses of the connected sections defining agasket channel closed by th'e contacting surfaces of the anges but opentoward the interior of the tank and adapted to receive gasket materialfor sealing the joint between the sections, and a rounded performedcompressible gasket disposedfin said channel, said gasket when in anuncompressed state being of greater cross-sectional area than saidchannel when the flanges are connected in assembled relation, thegasketbeing thus subjected to predetermined pressure when the sectionsare connected to one another and the material in excess of that requiredto completely fill the channel being crowded into the openportion of thechannel.

9. In a sectional gas tank, a substantially cylindrical body made up ofa plurality of sections, heads secured to opposite ends of said body,the body sections at said ends being formed with circumferentiallyprojecting flanges formed with arcuate reecsses in the outer facesthereof dening a seat for gasket material for sealing the joint betweenthe head and body, a rounded compressible gasket disposed in saidrecess, said gasket when in an uncompressed state being of ma# teriallygreater cross-sectional area than its seat, the peripheral margina1 edgeof each of said heads being secured to said body end section flangesbeyond said down to compress the gasket between its seat and said head,there being a space left between the inner portion of the gasket seatand the contiguous surface of the head to accommodate the excess gasketmaterial, and an annular reinforcing ring disposed between the peripheryof the head and said section anges, the inner edge of said ringforminggpart of the outer wall'of the gasket seat.

DONALD KEITH MACLEOD.

gasket recess and tightened

